Video: Qi-gong — Mindful Movement Practices
A series of movement and breathing practices (57 minutes) drawing on principles found in Qi-gong, Yi-Jin-Jing and Hatha Yoga. The emphasis here is not on …
A Morning of Mindfulness in Nature: Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens
August 23, 2026 — Coffs Harbour Regional Botanic Gardens, NSWA guided outdoor mindfulness session led by Br. Tenzin, exploring Buddhist principles of compassion and wisdom through meditation practices that deepen connection with nature — inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings. Part of the Our Living Coast program, organised by Lilli Nicholson.
Follow-up
Thank you to everyone who joined the Mindfulness in Nature session at Coffs Harbour Regional Botanic Gardens, on beautiful Gumbaynggirr Country. This was a two-hour session: a 35-minute movement practice drawing on qigong and yoga principles (a video lesson in a similar sequence is available here), an introduction to mindful walking in the Plum Village tradition, a slow 45-minute mindful walk through the gardens, and a closing sharing circle. Some key take-homes from the practices shared are below.
The “Satipaṭṭhāna attitude”
Guidance during the session drew on the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (MN 10), the “Four Establishments of Mindfulness” — of which Mindfulness of the Body is the first. A key instruction from the sutta is the attitude it asks us to bring: “ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṃ” — ardent, clearly comprehending, and mindful, having put aside longing and aversion. In plain terms: keen and attentive, clearly understanding what’s happening, and not grasping at or pushing away any part of our experience.
Guided meditations
Audio: Embodied Practice — Body Scan and Total Relaxation
A guided body scan and total relaxation (32 minutes), building on earlier embodied-awareness and breath meditations to cultivate sensitivity to subtler …
Audio: Embodied Practice — Finding the Full Body Breath
A guided introduction (35 minutes) to rediscovering the full volume of the body’s natural, diaphragmatic breath — simple, safe preliminary practices …
Audio: Embodied Practice — Basic Breath Awareness
This practice expands on basic postural awareness, bringing in mindfulness of breathing, drawing on the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118). Suitable for any level of …
Suggested reading
- The Sun My Heart — Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax Press)
- Breathe, You Are Alive — Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax Press)
More on this theme in the full Suggested Reading list.
Related links
Related upcoming events
- Practice Day: Calm Abiding and Lovingkindness, Vajraling, Rocky River — 29 August 2026
- Deep Ecology: Coffs Harbour, with John Seed and Friends, 11–13 September 2026
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Further resources
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